She preferred Bailey

He's a good all rounder and a very skill full ball playing loose (something which there is a shortage of thesedays) Would be a great signing for someone who needs a 13 or even a back rower but not really what we're looking for, no point signing a player (just because he is good) when we that area filled. Better to keep the CAP available for positions we badly need.

For me the creative positions on a RL team are

FB-To link up as a deep lying second receiver, acting 3rd centre and key support player.
SH-first receiver/organiser playmaker
SO-Second receiver, or playmaker (split halves) running off the 1st receiver.
HK-Dummy half, where the attack begins, needs speed on the scoot, great vision and passing
LF-To act as another second receiver, someone who links up with the halves out numbering defenses on either side of the pitch with the second row or as a second SO.

Who do we have in these creative areas

FB Phelps- Barely links up, doesn't act (hardly as a deep lying second reciever, doesn't cause an overlap with the centre and winger.
SH-Tommy
SO Smith (can't run off the first receiver) need to be a 7 or forces the team to play split halves.
HK-Piggy. Lacks the speed or fitness to be a threat through his spells on the field
LF-Lockers, getting better all the time, still for me he could be an outstanding tackle machine in the SR with good go forward, but lacks the vision and wits to be a LF.

How to correct this?

NEW FB
NEW SH
Sam to Stand Off. don't let him worry about the 'running' of the team, let him run off as a second reciever and look for holes in the defensive line going through gaps with his pace and movement or putting the 'runner' through gaps he's created.
Tommy and McC to HK. Both got speed, movement and quick hands to keep to play moving at a fast attacking rate to trouble the opposition.
Joel Tomkins to LF. Was awesome at 13, was making good runs all over the pitch linking up well with Barrett. He's really suffered this year being used as a battering ram (this is how we often use our second rowers) or not being spotted by creative halves. (remember how Smith picked him out at Murrayfield against Saints? that sort of thing.


Allow these players to put the 'runners' SR to Centre to Wing) through gaps, or even the props who play more central.

Release:

Bailey
Smith
Phelps
Coley

to create CAP space for new FB, SH and PROP.

I actually came on here misguidedly thinking I might, at least, get a little sensible conversation....I never realised that every forum on RL fans was riddled with folk just looking for an argument.

Could anybody direct me to somewhere where sensible inter-club debate goes on??...

no.

It happens all the time sadly

Someone that talks sense!!!

The FB and SH have to be great players simple as you don't need W/C props, average props with average reputations are good enough if they do the work. Hull KR prove the point, no really a bunch of awesome props, but having a very good SH who controls them well and an ace FB who reads and understands the game to a tee, is very helpful when they can pop up anywhere!

Anywhere, I'd think, where you don't ride in like a cowboy looking for trouble.

He'd be a top class 9 or 13 if he played their all the time. We have both of these positions covered so we'll not be making a move.

I do not care about reputations. All I care about is being able to do the job. Some people seem obsessed with signing some Aussie because of their reputation yet they have watched them play about three times.

Good point. Even more relevant when working under a CAP.